Water heater by-pass and flushing nozzle arrangement

ABSTRACT

A water heater includes a substantially cylindrical tank having a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and an exhaust flue. The cold water inlet is disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank to prevent condensation from occurring between the cold water inlet and the exhaust flue. A T connector having an inlet and first and second outlets is connected to the cold water inlet. A flush valve is connected to the second outlet of the T connector to allow the tank to be flushed. A nozzle is connected to the cold water inlet and is disposed inside the tank. The nozzle is angled to swirl the water that is being placed into the tank so that sediment is lifted into the water. The nozzle may be angled downwardly to stir up sediment from the bottom of the tank.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/174,230 filed Jan. 3, 2000; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to water heaters and, more particularly, to a water heater having a water flow arrangement that increases the life of the hot water tank. Specifically, the invention relates to a by-pass and flush nozzle arrangement wherein cold water is directed into a hot water tank through the flush valve to prevent condensation from occurring on the top of the tank. The lack of condensation increases the life of the tank.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Standard gas water heaters include hot and cold water pipes disposed at the top of the tank. The cold water pipe is typically adjacent an exhaust flue. The exhaust flue becomes extremely hot while the gas water heater is operating. The difference in temperature between the cold water pipe and the hot gas flue creates condensation at the top of the tank. The condensation causes the tank to rust. Homeowners desire tanks that last long and do not rust.

[0006] Another problem with hot water tanks is that sediment collects at the bottoms of the tank. The sediment eventually corrodes the bottom of the tank and decreases the efficiency of the burner. The art thus desires an arrangement that prevents sediment from accumulating at the bottom of the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that has a cold water inlet that prevents condensation from forming at the top of the tank.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that prevents sediment from collecting at the bottom of the tank.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cold water inlet arrangement for a gas hot water tank that allows the bottom of the tank to be flushed when desired by the user.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an arrangement that can be readily retrofitted onto existing gas hot water tanks.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an arrangement that eliminates metal-to-metal contact to avoid long term corrosion.

[0012] These and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by the device described below and shown in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a gas hot water tank employing the arrangement of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG. 1.

[0018] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The hot water tank with water inlet arrangement according to the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. Arrangement 10 includes a standard gas-fueled hot water tank 12 and a cold water inlet system 14. Hot water tank 12 includes a top 16, a bottom 18, and a generally cylindrical side wall 20 extending between top 16 and bottom 18. Tank 12 further includes a standard cold water inlet 22, a standard hot water outlet 24, a burner (not shown but disposed at bottom 18), and a hot gas exhaust flue 26.

[0020] Hot water tank 12 is designed to operate by accepting cold water through inlet 22. The cold water typically travels down through the body of tank 12 to the outlet adjacent bottom 18 of tank 12. The burner directs a flame against the bottom of tank 12 to heat the water disposed within tank 12. The heated water rises and is dispensed from tank 12 through outlet 24 through a hot water pipe 28. The exhaust from the burner travels through the center of tank 12 in a central pipe 30 (see FIG. 2) and is taken away from tank 12 by flue 26.

[0021] In the past, the heat between flue 26 and cold water inlet 22 created condensation at top 16 of tank 12. The condensation eventually caused tank 12 to rust. In the present invention, a plug 32 closes inlet 22 and the cold water is brought into tank 12 through the flush inlet 40.

[0022] Flush inlet 40 is designed to receive a flush valve faucet 42. Faucet 42 is typically connected directly to flush opening 40 to allow the user to flush the bottom of tank 12 to remove sediment collection. In the present invention, system 14 directs cold water into tank 12 through opening 40. System 14 includes a T connection 44 that accepts the inlet pipe 46. Pipe 46 may include a shut off valve 48. Pipe 46 directs cold water into T connector 44. Pipe 46 is typically metal and T connector 44 is typically metal. A plastic connector 50 is thus used to prevent metal-to-metal contact between element 44 and pipe 46. Faucet 42 is connected to the outlet side of T connector 44. The inlet side of T connector 44 is directed to a nozzle 52 that is preferably fabricated from plastic. Nozzle 52 extends within tank 12 to direct cold water directly into the bottom of tank 12.

[0023] Nozzle 52 has a ninety degree outlet 54 that is arranged to direct water in a swirling pattern as indicated by the arrows labeled by the numeral 56. Outlet 54 is further directed downwardly as shown in FIG. 3 to clean sediment off of the bottom of tank 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention outlet 54 is angled downwardly from horizontal at an angle 58 of about five degrees. The inventor notes that other angles may also be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The preferred size of outlet 54 is {fraction (5/16)} of an inch to ensure that a strong flow is created through outlet 54.

[0024] Nozzle 52 includes external threads 60 that cooperate with the threads of flush opening 40 so that nozzle 52 may be threaded directly into tank 20. Nozzle 52 is marked by an appropriate indicator on its exterior surface so that the person installing nozzle 52 can identify the location of outlet 54 with respect to tank 12. The marking may be a surface such as surface 62 on a nut.

[0025] System 14 thus causes cold water to enter hot water tank 12 through the bottom of hot water tank 12. This arrangement avoids the condensation problem by moving the cold water pipe far away from the hot gas flue. The arrangement of the outlet of the nozzle also keeps the sediment off the bottom of the tank when the tank is periodically filled. Hot water tank and cold water inlet arrangement 10 thus solve the problems in the art by preventing rust and keeping sediment from building on the bottom of the tank.

[0026] Accordingly, the improved hot water heater by-pass and flushing nozzle arrangement apparatus is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

[0027] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

[0028] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

[0029] Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the hot water heater by-pass and flushing nozzle arrangement is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A water heater, comprising: a tank having a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and an exhaust flue; the tank having an upper end and a lower end; the cold water inlet being disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank; and the exhaust flue being disposed adjacent the upper end of the tank.
 2. The water heater of claim 1 , further comprising a flush valve connected to the cold water inlet.
 3. The water heater of claim 2 , wherein the flush valve is disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank.
 4. The water heater of claim 1 , further comprising a cold water pipe connected to the cold water inlet.
 5. The water heater of claim 4 , wherein the tank includes a flush inlet; the cold water pipe being connected to the flush inlet.
 6. The water heater of claim 5 , further comprising a flush valve connected to the cold water inlet pipe; the flush valve being located adjacent the lower end of the tank.
 7. The water heater of claim 6 , further comprising a shut off valve connected to the cold water inlet pipe; the shut off valve being adapted to stop water from flowing through the cold water inlet pipe.
 8. The water heater of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle connected to the cold water inlet; the nozzle being disposed inside the tank.
 9. The water heater of claim 8 , wherein the nozzle is angled to swirl the water that is being placed into the tank.
 10. The water heater of claim 9 , wherein the nozzle defines an outlet having a longitudinal axis; the longitudinal axis of the outlet being disposed substantially tangentially to the tank when view from the upper end of the tank looking down.
 11. The water heater of claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the outlet is angled downwardly toward the lower end of the tank such that water is directed from the nozzle outlet to the lower end of the tank.
 12. A water heater, comprising: a substantially cylindrical tank having a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and an exhaust flue; the tank having an upper end and, a lower end; the cold water inlet being disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank; the exhaust flue being disposed adjacent the upper end of the tank. a T connector having an inlet and first and second outlets; a cold water inlet piper being connected to the inlet of the T connector; the first outlet of the T connector being connected to the cold water inlet of the tank; a flush valve being connected to the second outlet of the T connector; a shut off valve being connected to the cold water inlet pipe; the shut off valve being adapted to stop water from flowing through the cold water inlet pipe; a nozzle connected to the cold water inlet; the nozzle being disposed inside the tank; wherein the nozzle is angled to swirl the water that is being placed into the tank; wherein the nozzle defines an outlet having a longitudinal axis; the longitudinal axis of the outlet being disposed substantially tangentially to the tank when view from the upper end of the tank looking down; and wherein the longitudinal axis of the outlet is angled downwardly toward the lower end of the tank such that water is directed from the nozzle outlet to the lower end of the tank. 